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Summary: The need for constant improvement to reach a high standard of safety and to make nanomaterials accessible for marketing has generated a considerable number of scientific papers that highlight new important aspects to be considered, such as synthesis, stability, biocompatibility, and easy manipulation. In order to provide a comprehensive update on the latest discoveries concerning nanomaterials, this reprint presents 14 scientific papers, 10 research articles and 4 reviews, that deal with biomedical and biotechnological applications of nanomaterials.

Summary: This Special Issue on the "Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Preeclampsia" belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics" of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. It was a very successful Special Issue as it contains 20 published papers, including one editorial, nine original research papers, and ten reviews on the topic. The original publications cover a wide spectrum of topics, including alterations and involvement of specific factors during preeclampsia, new non-invasive technologies to identify changes, new treatment options, animal models, gender aspects, and effects of the pregnancy pathology later in life. The review publications again cover a wide spectrum of topics, including factors and pathways involved in preeclampsia, effects on the maternal vascular and immune systems, effects on the placenta and the trophoblast, epigenetic changes, new preventive strategies, and new views on the current hypotheses on preeclampsia. Taken together, this Special Issue gives a fantastic overview on a broad spectrum of topics, all of which are important to identify the real etiology of preeclampsia and to finally develop real treatment options.

Summary: The milk industry is largely based on dairy cattle production. After decades of great advancements in genetics, nutrition, and management, today, one cow can reach unprecedented levels of milk production. New challenges have been posed to preserving the health and welfare of these domestic animals. "High-Yielding Dairy Cows" is a collection of scientific papers focusing on three main areas: metabolic diseases, reproduction diseases, and herd (heath) management in confined and pasture production systems. This book aggregates knowledge from a molecular level to a more holistic approach on disease prevention and management, giving the reader an accurate overview of the current state of the art of this topic. It intends to contribute to ensuring the supply of ethical and responsible animal protein for about eight billion of people.

Unveils how the immune system works and explores strategies for harnessing its potential for maintaining good health.Embark on a fascinating journey into the human immune system with The Logic of Immunity. B. J. Cherayil, an accomplished immunologist and educator, demystifies the complex workings of our body's defense system. This scientifically grounded book illustrates the inner mechanisms of specialized cells and molecules that safeguard our health, shedding light on how and why our immune systems can malfunction and lead to disease. Drawing from years of experience and expertise, Dr. Cherayil skillfully guides readers through the intricacies of immune responses and offers invaluable insights into the latest research-backed strategies to harness their power for maintaining and restoring well-being. Blending scientific knowledge with historical anecdotes, this work also introduces the remarkable scientists who have shaped our understanding of immune function. Complemented by detailed illustrations and a glossary of key terms, The Logic of Immunity explains how the immune system interacts with other body systems, why some people develop autoimmune diseases while others do not, and how lifestyle factors may activate or suppress the immune system. Explore the enigmatic world of immunity, unlock its secrets, and discover the power it holds to protect our health.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat. The menace of antimicrobial resistance is present across health, animal, agriculture, food, and environment sectors. It, therefore, requires an inter-disciplinary combat approach- the one health approach, envisaged by the FAO-UNEP-WHO-WOAH Quadripartite (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This comprehensive reference book provides a thorough understanding of antimicrobial resistance across different sectors. It presents deep insights and gives a global perspective on antimicrobial resistance for policymakers. The book offers essential and up-to-date information that enables researchers from multiple fields to design research on antimicrobial resistance. The book discusses molecular mechanisms and antibiotic resistance genesof significant antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, regulatory frameworks available worldwide, and mitigation strategies across the sectors, including probiotics, prebiotics, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, phytochemical compounds, immunostimulants, vaccines, bacteriocins, etc. It compiles essays from leading experts in the field of antimicrobial resistance research. The book is meant for students and researchers in microbiology, medical microbiology, and public health. It is also helpful for clinicians and policymakers.

This timely book discusses antimicrobial drug resistance, specifically, the resistance against the beta-lactam class of antibiotics by Gram-Negative bacteria. The book is broadly divided into five sections. The first section describes the underlying mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. It gives an insight into the beta-lactamases, their types, classification, inhibitors, etc. The second section delves deep into the genetic basis of resistance. It talks about transposons, integrons, insertion sequences associated with antibiotic-resistant genes. The next section describes phenotypic and molecular methods to detect beta-lactam resistance. The fourth section talks about the epidemiology and prevalence of beta-lactamases in the environment. The last section of the book describes the various therapeutic options to combat this growing public threat of antimicrobial resistance. It talks about the current reserve drugs, as well as the newer antibiotic agents that are in the pipeline. This book is essential for clinical practitioners, students, and researchers in basic and medical microbiology.

This book provides in-depth information about the ecology, diversity and applications of Actinomycetes. The book is divided into two major parts. The first part discusses the diversity, chemical biology and ecology of Actinomycetes. It also covers the discovery of natural products from soil, endophytic and marine-derived Actinomycetes. It includes natural product discovery, chemical biology, new methods for discovering secondary metabolites, structure elucidation and biosynthetic research of natural products. The chapters in this part focus on the effects of biological and chemical elicitation at molecular level on secondary metabolism in Actinomycetes. The second part of the book discusses genomic and synthetic biology approaches in Actinomycetes drug discovery. This part includes chapters focused on the application of metabolic engineering to optimize natural product synthesis and the use of omics data in engineering of regulatory genes. It covers the advanced tools of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering including cluster assembly, CRISPR/Cas9 technologies, and chassis strain development for natural product overproduction in Actinomycetes. It describes the use of bioinformatics tools for reprogramming of biosynthetic pathways through polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase engineering. These advanced genomic and molecular tools are expected to accelerate the discovery and development of new natural products from Actinomycetes with medicinal and other industrial applications. The book is useful to researchers and students in the field of microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences and drug discovery.

This book focuses on nanomaterials with antibacterial properties. Antibacterial resistance is a growing concern that poses a serious threat to public health worldwide. This book looks at the fabrication, material's properties, and characterization of a range of metallic, bimetallic, and metal-oxide-based nanomaterials that can be exploited for their antimicrobial properties. A key focus of this book is its emphasis on ‘green'synthesis of nanomaterials, as many conventional routes of nanomaterial fabrication do not fulfill key sustainability criteria in terms of their toxicity and lack of eco-friendliness. Additionally, this book introduces the application of nanoparticles to veterinary medicine. Given the ever-increasing global livestock population coupled with the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens of animal origin (bacterial, parasitic, and hemoprotozoa), the use of nanoparticles as antibacterial agents represents a paradigm shift in every aspect of veterinary care. Authored by scholars with combined expertise in nanomaterials and veterinary medicine, this book provides valuable information for researchers working on sustainable nanomaterials with antibacterial properties.

This comprehensive and user-friendly volume focuses on the intersection between the fields of nutrition and infectious disease. It highlights the importance of nutritional status in infectious disease outcomes, and the need to recognize the role that nutrition plays in altering the risk of exposure and susceptibility to infection, the severity of the disease, and the effectiveness of treatment. Split into four parts, section one begins with a conceptual model linking nutritional status and infectious diseases, followed by primers on nutrition and immune function, that can serve as resources for students, researchers and practitioners. Section two provides accessible overviews of major categories of pathogens and is intended to be used as antecedents of pathogen-focused subsequent chapters, as well as to serve as discrete educational resources for students, researchers, and practitioners. The third section includes five in-depth case studies on specific infectious diseases where nutrition-infection interactions have been extensively explored: diarrheal and enteric disease, HIV and tuberculosis, arboviruses, malaria, and soil-transmitted helminths. The final section addresses cross-cutting topics such as drug-nutrient interactions, co-infections, and nutrition, infection, and climate change and then concludes by consolidating relevant clinical and public health approaches to addressing infection in the context of nutrition, and thus providing a sharp focus on the clinical relevance of the intersection between nutrition and infectionWritten by experts in the field, Nutrition and Infectious Diseases will be a go to resource and guide for immunologists, clinical pathologists, sociologists, epidemiologists, nutritionists, and all health care professionals managing and treating patients with infectious diseases.

“A highly accessible resource for those interested in ways to improve their overall health by improving the health of their immune system.” —ChoiceThe immune system is your constant guardian, fighting around the clock to protect you from disease. There's a lot you can do to strengthen this first line of defense against all kinds of threats, from COVID-19 to cancer. In this book, immunologist Dr. Jenna Macciochi gives us a crash course on how the immune system actually works—and how to keep yours in shape—with authoritative guidance on: ·the best foods to eat to strengthen your immune system ·the importance of movement, and how often to exercise ·the essential link between immunity and sleep ·the immune system's surprising connection to your mental health, and more

According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to global health because the number of alternative antibiotics is very limited. Antimicrobial resistance is a slow evolutionary process that has been accelerated by human activities in health, environment and agriculture sectors. Due to their wide application, antibiotics and their residues have been found in almost all food products and natural ecosystems. This book reviews the drivers, impact and mitigation of antimicrobial resistance, with focus on methods and targets.

First published in 1984: The main interest of this book is immunological. The first chapter deals with the nature of the local immune system and discusses it within the context of the normal physiology of the gut.

This book reviews the emerging studies of synthetic immunology, including the development and regeneration of immune cells, immune organ development and artificial regeneration, and the synthetic approach towards understanding human immune system. Immunology has developed rapidly over the last 50 years through the incorporation of new methods and concepts in cell and molecular biology, genetics, genomics and proteomics. This progress is the result of works by many excellent researchers all over the world. Currently, immunological research has accumulated detailed knowledge on basic mechanisms of immunity and is in the process to change medical practices. Yet, due to the enormous complexity of the immune system, many aspects on the regulation and function of this system remain unknown. Synthetic biology uses gain-of-function rather than loss-of-function approaches. The goals of synthetic biology can be described in a simple phrase “rebuild, alter, and understand,” namely, to rebuild minimal functional systems using well-defined parts from nature and then to perturb the system to understand its working principles. Given the richness of accumulated knowledge in molecular and cellular mechanisms of the immune system, we now begin adapting the concepts of synthetic biology to immunology. An immune response is a spatiotemporal phenomenon occurring at a given time and at a specialized place in the body. One goal of synthetic immunology is to reconstruct artificial microenvironments for better understanding of an immune response. We hope this yet-to-be-experimental approach of synthetic immunology and the compilation of this book will aid our further understanding of the immune system and future devising the tools to manipulate the immune system for therapy and prevention of the diseases.

The Innate Immune Response to Non-infectious Stressors: Human and Animal Models highlights fundamental mechanisms of stress response and important findings on how the immune system is affected, and in turn affects such a response. In addition, this book covers the crucial link between stress response and energy metabolism, prompts a re-appraisal of some crucial issues, and helps to define research priorities in this fascinating, somehow elusive field of investigation. Provides insights into the fundamental homeostatic processes vis-à-vis stressors to help in investigation Illustrates the depicted tenets and how to offset them against established models of response to physical and psychotic stressors in both animals and humans Covers the crucial issue of the immune response to endocrine disruptors Includes immunological parameters as reporter system of environmental adaptation Provides many illustrative examples to foster reader understanding

Develop Effective Immunogenicity Risk Mitigation StrategiesImmunogenicity assessment is a prerequisite for the successful development of biopharmaceuticals, including safety and efficacy evaluation. Using advanced statistical methods in the study design and analysis stages is therefore essential to immunogenicity risk assessment and mitigation stra

Written in the same engaging conversational style as the acclaimed first edition, Primer to The Immune Response, 2nd Edition is a fully updated and invaluable resource for college and university students in life sciences, medicine and other health professions who need a concise but comprehensive introduction to immunology. The authors bring clarity and readability to their audience, offering a complete survey of the most fundamental concepts in basic and clinical immunology while conveying the subject's fascinating appeal. The content of this new edition has been completely updated to include current information on all aspects of basic and clinical immunology. The superbly drawn figures are now in full color, complemented by full color plates throughout the book. The text is further enhanced by the inclusion of numerous tables, special topic boxes and brief notes that provide interesting insights. At the end of each chapter, a self-test quiz allows students to monitor their mastery of major concepts, while a set of conceptual questions prompts them to extrapolate further and extend their critical thinking. Moreover, as part of the Academic Cell line of textbooks, Primer to The Immune Response, 2nd Edition contains research passages that shine a spotlight on current experimental work reported in Cell Press articles. These articles also form the basis of case studies that are found in the associated online study guide and are designed to reinforce clinical connections. Complete yet concise coverage of the basic and clinical principles of immunology Engaging conversational writing style that is to the point and very readable Over 200 clear, elegant color illustrations Comprehensive glossary and list of abbreviations

This textbook provides a unique support in gaining essential knowledge on the immune response, its diagnosis and its modification by drugs and chemicals. The first section of the book, covering a basic introduction to immunology and its relevance for human disease, has been updated to accommodate new immunological concepts. The second section on immunodiagnostics has been further expanded to describe widely used molecular techniques and is followed by a systematic coverage of drugs affecting the immune system, revised to cover recent developments. The book concludes with a chapter on immunotoxicology. This third edition continues the unique format dealing with four related topics in a single volume, obviating the need to refer to several different textbooks. New aids to the reader include a two-column format, glossaries of technical terms and appendix reference tables. The emphasis on illustrations is maintained from the first edition.

Examines the mechanisms of both the innate and adaptive immune systems as they relate to infection and disease.

Immunogenicity is the ability of a particular substance, such as an antigen or epitope, to provoke an immune response. This book presents current research in the study of immunogenicity, including such topics as the molecular aspects involved in the immunogenicity against viral epitopes; fish immunogenicity and antigenicity to improve fish DNA vaccines; influenza infection and immunological memory responses; and the immunogenicity of B and T epitopes, among others.

There has been a huge increase in the knowledge and understanding of the immunological processes involved in surgical practice in recent years. Anaesthesiologists and intensive care physicians are increasingly recognising the significant derangements of immune function in the critically ill patient and the possible therapeutic approaches to manage such patients (including new approaches in transplantation rejections, novel vaccination strategies in cancer treatment, as well as a better understanding of the beneficial effects of standard chemotherapy). Written by recognised experts in their field from both the UK and the US, and extensively referenced for further reading, Essential Immunology for Surgeons provides a concise, up-to-date, and readable account of immunology in general and its translation into key areas of clinical practice. It provides the necessary foundation for a critical understanding of this essential and rapidly expanding area of biological science that underpins and explains the modern concepts of a range of diseases and conditions, encompassing autoimmunity, infection, trauma, cancer, nutrition, organ transplantation, and various forms of therapy. Previously published as Immunological Basis for Surgical Science and Practice, this fully-updated textbook is aimed predominantly at the surgical trainee, but will also be of value to undergraduate and postgraduate clinicians of any discipline who wish to have a better understanding and knowledge of the subject, as well as to researchers studying the various core topics discussed in the book.

This Ebook provides an interesting and up-to-date overview of Parasite Immunology in terms of a survival battle between hosts and parasites, describing firstly how parasites interact with different B cell compartments and trigger a vigorous antibody response. An Interesting chapter deals with new insights into immune diagnosis in Trypanosoma cruzi infection, while another chapter on malaria vaccines critically reviews their development since the beginning, examining the basis for failures or successes encountered in clinical trials. Chapters on immunological aspects of amoebiasis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis in humans are written by top researchers in the world working in this field. This Ebook should prove to be of interest to researchers and students wishing to familiarize themselves with the latest developments in this field. Therefore, this Ebook is considered essential for all researchers involved in Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Vaccine design and discovery.

This book explains how the immune system functions, namely, how individual cells of the immune system make the decision to respond or not to respond to foreign microbes and molecules, and how the critical molecules function to trigger the cellular reactions in an all-or-none (quantal) manner. To date, there has not been a complete description of the immune system and its cells and molecules, primarily because most of the information has accumulated only in the last 40 years and our understanding has been expanding rapidly only in the last 20 years. It is now clear that the cells have evolved a way to “count” the number of foreign antigenic molecular “hits”, and they only react when a critical number of events have accumulated. Subsequently, control over the reaction is transferred to a systemic lymphocytotrophic hormone system that determines the tempo, magnitude and duration of the immune reaction.This book explains in detail how the immune system, cells and molecules work for the first time. With this understanding as a basis, the pathogenesis of autoimmunity can now be understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding molecules that participate in a sensitive feedback regulatory control of the immune reaction. By comparison, malignant transformation is understood as a mutational usurpation of the genes encoding the molecules that control the quantal decision to proliferate, so that normal ligand/receptor cell growth control is circumvented.

West Nile virus is a neurotropic flavivirus that has emerged globally as a primary cause of viral encephalitis. Infection of humans and other vertebrate animals is associated with a febrile illness that can progress to a lethal encephalitis or flaccid paralysis syndrome. Its appearance in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 and the corresponding increase in global disease burden over the last decade have been accompanied by intensive study, including the entry of many scientists into the field. Breakthroughs have been made in understanding the unique transmission pattern between the vector and the multiple avian and mammalian hosts and targets. Studies in mammalian systems have dissected the viral and host factors that determine the pathogenesis and outcome of West Nile virus infection. On the basis of these experiments, progress has been made on the identification of genetic factors that predispose to severe human disease. Thus, in a remarkably short period of time, insight has been gained on a wide variety of disciplines related to West Nile virus biology. The aim of this book was to assemble an up-to-date and cutti- edge anthology from the leading experts in the field. The chapters are balanced by submissions from newcomers who have made significant recent contributions with those from established investigators who have dedicated their careers to the study of West Nile virus.

To read current biomedical science, one has to have a working knowledge of how important effector molecules cause transduction of their signal within cells, altering the control of genes. This work aims to provide that basic knowledge for medical readers. Students of immunology or cell biology will note its relevance. One will learn how platelets, macrophages, neutrophils, T and B lymphocytes and natural killer cells perform their functions and how skin, breast, prostate and colon cancers emerge. The associated diagrams and tables are used to obviate extensive text. Appropriate references to articles and reviews by workers in each field are given so that further consideration can easily be undertaken. We are all at differing stages of our appreciation of immunology and of pat- physiology. Some persons will have a profound background in biochemistry or molecular biology. Others will have a reminiscence of lectures received years ago. Since this work is principally for clinical doctors, the sections that can be avoided at first reading are marked with an asterisk (•). Always proceed line by line and think of associations that you know. Do you feel comfortable with the statement, “Interleukin 6 stimulates glucose uptake in renal proximal tubular cells, and that action is associated with Stat3, PI3K/Akt, MAPKs and NF-kB signal pathways”? If not, please read on.

The inverse correlation between allergic diseases and helminth infections has been debated for over 30 years. It was initially assumed that the underlying mechanism is an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 responses that, as a result of reduced exposure to Th1-inducing infectious pathogens, has tipped to allergic Th2 responses. It has only recently been clearly demonstrated that helminth infections have negative effects on allergic disease manifestation. This was shown to be consistent with the activity of regulatory cell populations, which control the effector mechanisms of both Th1 and Th2. In this book, international experts in the field discuss the various roles of the cell populations involved in allergic reactions and helminth infections such as regulatory T and B cells, natural killer T cells, mast cells and basophils. Essential for specialists and students in the field, the contributions to this volume pave the way to new directions of research for the successful immunization against helminths and the prevention of inflammatory responses in allergic and autoimmune diseases.

The ability to remember an antigenic encounter for several decades, even for a life time, is one of the fundamental properties of the immune system. This phenomenon known as'immunological memory', is the foundation upon which the concept if vaccination rests. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which immunological memory is regulated is of paramount importance. Recent advances in immunology, particularly in the field of innate immunity, suggest that the innate immune system plays fundamental roles in influencing immunological memory. Indeed, emerging evidence suggests that events that occur early, within hours if not minutes of pathogen or vaccine entry profoundly shape the quantity, quality and duration of immunological memory. The present volume assembles a collection of essays from leading experts that span the entire spectrum research from understanding the molecular mechanisms of innate immune recognition, to dendritic cell function, to the generation and maintenance of antigen-specific B and T-cell responses.

Lymphocyte Differentiation, Recognition, and Regulation provides an overview of the state of knowledge on cellular immunology. The focus is on animal work than on studies in man, although in certain areas human lymphocyte biology has been discussed in some detail. The book attempts to integrate information from diverse areas of cellular immunology, immunogenetics, and immunochemistry to form some cohesive concepts that can be perhaps utilized as a working foundation for students and investigators in various areas of immunology. The book begins with a general description of some of techniques and principles underlying the systems frequently employed in cellular immunology. This is followed by detailed analyses of lymphocyte differentiation, receptor function, and regulatory processes. The main points that emerge from such analyses are that the immune system is an infinitely complex and finely tuned network of cells, receptors, and molecules which interact with one another in a genetically controlled manner that is manifested ultimately in the process known as differentiation.

Immune Recognition and Evasion: Molecular Aspects of Host-Parasite Interaction reviews recent advances in understanding the genetic basis of host-parasite interactions, with emphasis on antigenic epitopes, the genetics of parasites, the molecular mechanisms of immune recognition and evasion, and the way that cytokines and hormones act on host-parasite interactions. Organized into four parts encompassing 25 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the genomic organization of the T cell receptor genes and the contribution of non-B DNA structures to switch recombination in immunoglobulin genes. It then discusses signal transduction by class II molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex la and the biological consequences of this process; allelic polymorphism of HLA class II antigens and its connection to the molecular basis of autoimmunity; mimicry between HLAB27 and bacteria; and genetic control of susceptibility to helminth infection. The reader is also introduced to recognition of protein antigens by antibodies; recognition of influenza antigens by class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes; the biochemical basis of cachexia of infection; mechanisms of antigenic variation in Plasmodium; and rational design of trypanocidal drugs. Geneticists and molecular biologists will gain valuable information from this book.

The Antigens, Volume V is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology as well as their immunologic role and expression. Four complex problems of direct relevance to human health are explored, namely, tumor antigens, antigens of helminths, cytotoxic lymphocytes, and complement. Comprised of four chapters, this volume begins with a review of classic studies of tumor-specific transplantation antigens, followed by a discussion on the detection and purification of tumor antigens; the immune response to tumor antigens; and the role of tumor antigens in the escape of tumors from immunological control. The reader is then introduced to some aspects of the different functions of antigens of helminths, along with the immune response in helminthiasis. The book also examines the generation, properties, and mode of action of antibody-independent cytolytic T lymphocytes before concluding with an analysis of the complement system and its reaction pathways as well as its role as an autoantigen. This monograph will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

The Antigens, Volume II is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology as well as their immunologic role and expression. Topics covered range from protein antigens and blood group antigens to low molecular weight antigens and immunoglobulin A. The idiotypy of antibodies is also explored, along with the application of antibodies to the measurement of substances of physiological and pharmacological interest. Comprised of six chapters, this volume begins with a discussion on the molecular bases of antigenicity and immunogenicity of proteins, followed by a chapter dealing with blood group antigens. The immunologic effects of low molecular weight antigens are then considered, together with their elicitation of allergic reactions and their tolerance and specific inhibition of the immune response. The next chapter focuses on the use of antibodies to measure substances of physiological and pharmacological interest, with emphasis on the general principle of quantitative immunoassay. The book also analyzes the idiotypy of antibodies before concluding with a description of the antibody functions of immunoglobulin A. This monograph will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

The Antigens, Volume I is a comprehensive treatise covering all aspects of antigens, including their chemistry and biology, structure and function, their initiation of the immune response, and the nature of the products of this response. The nature of the reaction of antigens with antibodies and with sensitized cells is also explored. Comprised of seven chapters, this volume begins with a discussion on the antigenic functions of nucleic acids as well as their immunogenicity, hapten functions, and serologic reactions. The reader is then introduced to the immunochemistry and antigenic determinants of enzymes, along with the structure and phylogeny of immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin allotypes. The evolution of proteins and their structure and function is also considered, paying particular attention to evolution by the random fixation of selectively neutral alleles, the rates of protein evolution, gene duplication, and divergence or convergence. The final chapter is devoted to the chemistry and biology of immunoglobulin E as well as the regulation of formation of their antibodies. This book will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in immunology, experimental and clinical medicine, biochemistry, and other disciplines.

Using the published work of Nobel Laureate Niels Kaj Jerne, this book shows how he developd his ideas. The book is a compilation of his published work, but in fact it is much more than that. Whether the reader wants to read the book systematically, or only browse, it opens a fascinating world of hypotheses, theories, facts and vistas. His selection theory, his view of how immunological diversity is created, and his concept of lymphocytes interacting as a network, reveals Jerne's revolutionary spirit. The book ought to be a rich source of inspiration for everyone interested in science and how science is made.